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Blue lights in bathrooms - why?

I always thought the blue lights in heavily-used bathrooms served some sort of disinfectant purpose. (UV light?) But then I heard that they're there so that IV drug users can't find a vein to shoot up. Anyone know for sure?

Originally posted by Totleigh-in-the-Wold:I always thought the blue lights in heavily-used bathrooms served some sort of disinfectant purpose. (UV light?) But then I heard that they're there so that IV drug users can't find a vein to shoot up. Anyone know for sure?

It is UV light (although they tend to produce a very 'flat' blue light), yes, and its specific intended purpose is indeed to make it as difficult as possible for IV drug users to locate a vein. This is a fairly well known phenomenon in the UK, although one tends to see them fairly randomly. For example, there is a branch of Waterstone's bookshop on George Street here in Edinburgh. They have a little coffee shop at the back. They have a toilet. The toilet is fitted with aforementioned lighting. One can only assume that they don't want people bleeding all over the Irvine Welsh whilst seeking inspiration. Or a vein.

I once had to explain to my mother why the public toilets at Flinders Street station in Melbourne have these dark blue lights. She was a bit miffed at the strange light as she couldn't see if her lipstick looked OK.

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